Observatory dome removed after half century of stargazing

Thursday

Feb 26, 2009 at 12:01 AMFeb 26, 2009 at 1:11 AM

After 55 years as sentry to the stars, the Peoria Astronomical Society's Northmoor Observatory dome at Donovan Golf Course was relieved of duty early Wednesday morning. More than 100,000 visitors over the past half century have peered through the dome at the nearest orbit of Mars in 60,000 years, countless meteor showers and the moons of Jupiter, but rust and age took a toll.

Clare Howard

After 55 years as sentry to the stars, the Peoria Astronomical Society's Northmoor Observatory dome at Donovan Golf Course was relieved of duty early Wednesday morning.

More than 100,000 visitors over the past half century have peered through the dome at the nearest orbit of Mars in 60,000 years, countless meteor showers and the moons of Jupiter, but rust and age took a toll.

Members of the Peoria Astronomical Society researched repairing the dome and concluded replacement was a better option.

Member Eric Clifton said the society has raised almost $90,000 of a $110,000 project, and that included donated labor.

"We were stumbling along until Rich and Margo Tennis rejuvenated our fundraising campaign," he said.

So at 7:08 a.m., with operator Dick Jackson in the cab, a 40-ton, 105-foot boom crane from N.E. Finch Co. purred to life and rolled off the golf course parking lot on a slow journey between tees and greens to the observatory just north of Proctor Hospital.

With Pat Faley, a member of Steamfitters Local 353, crouched over the telescope in a direct sight line with Jackson, the two men used hand communication to direct the dome removal process.

Tethered with four straps, the 9,100-pound dome shifted slightly on its north footing, then on its south footing. Compensating for a light wind, the dome rose gracefully and silently off its footings, hovered seconds over the telescope, then ascended, cleared the telescope and was lowered to the ground, positioned on thick sheets of plywood to minimize damage to the turf.

7:41 a.m. Years of fundraising. Months of planning. Flawless execution.

A new dome arrives Monday from Ash Manufacturing Co. in Plainfield. Members of the Peoria Astronomical Society and volunteers from area labor unions will install the new dome in pieces.

Club member Terry Beachler, owner of Beachler's Service Center and Car Wash, put in more than 10 hours on the project Wednesday waterproofing the observatory until the new dome arrives.

He'll take a "vacation" from his company next week to work on installation of the new dome.

The Peoria Astronomical Society is celebrating International Year of Astronomy in 2009. Members of the club will staff the observatory every Saturday starting at dusk from May through October when the public can come without charge to observe the firmament.

"We're here until the last person leaves. Sometimes we're here until midnight or 1 a.m. I'm just anxious to see a thousand eyes looking through the dome next summer," said Beachler, who is volunteering on the schedule May 2 and May 9.

For more information, go to the Peoria Astronomical Society's Web site at www.astronomical.org.

Clare Howard can be reached at (309) 686-3250 or choward@pjstar.com.

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